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Sir Michael Wilshaw is right to say children should be taught basic educational skills

April 4 2014, 1:01am, The Times

Two thirds of children from poor backgrounds, Sir Michael Wilshaw revealed yesterday, arrive at primary school unprepared to receive formal instruction. That is despite most of them having attended a nursery since the age of two. The youngsters the Chief Inspector of Schools has in mind cannot hold a pen, or recognise simple numbers, or use a lavatory independently. They are, in short, in no condition to begin realising whatever academic potential they may possess.

The solution to this problem, Sir Michael says, is an expansion of so-called “structured learning”, preferably within a nursery based in — or at least under the auspices of — a school. Such a shift would be the best way of narrowing the embarrassing gap between the academic performances of those British…